The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-01-12
NIarI as a Fertilizer.

Professor James, OF the ontario lSau.
Agricultural College, in recent bulletin
considers mari In the light of fertilizer.
With statements made by Professor
James that NAV be seryiceable to farmers
generally are the following:
Mari is frequently found below de-
posits of muck or humus in swamps and
low land sometimes quite near to the
surface. 1t is then of slate or blush
white color, wet and spongy, darkened a
little on top from the overlying dark soil.
Upon exposure to the air it dries to
white crumbly mass. In some localities
the mari bed is found exposed high and
dry ready for immediate application to
land. When found lying 10 and soaked
with water it ought to dug out and ex-
posed to the weather. Fall is the best
time for excavating. Let the mari lie in
heaps until spring, when it will be found
thoroughly pulverized by the winter
frosts.
To distinguish mari from clay pour
upon it small quantity Of any acid, and
if it be mail it will efervesce. To test
its value quickly, place small lump in
an earthen dish and pour upon it little
hydrochloric acid; the less residue un-
dissolved the better the sample Of mari.
The effervescence is caused by the set
ting free of carbonic acid gas from the
carbonate of lime, of which mari is prin-
cipally composed. The: carbonate of lime
or calcium is the most valuable ingre-
dent. In addition will be found small
quantities of sand slli"a, brides of iron
and aluminium, and occasionally small
quantities of phosphate OF lime. Mari,
however, is a line fertilizer, and is used
as such.
According as the lime, clay or sand
predominates the mari is classed as cal
:areous, clayey or sandy. The Ontario
marls are ca careous.
AS before noticed, mari is lime fer
tilizer. Phosphoric acid when present
adds to its value slightly. Its effects
are either physical or chemical. lhysi-
cally, it seems to give lightness and loose
ness to soils, and thus renders them
more workable. hemically, it serves
either as direct food to the plant, as in
the case of grasses, or indirectly by ltS
action in rendering available the organic
compounds in decayingvegetation--hu-
mu., for instance.
The nitrogen of swamp muck is un-
available in its usual condition. Thor
oughly d,ained the land and apply sixty
to seventy.fve bushels of mari per acre.
On light soils about twenty-five bushels
per acre, sufficient to help the decompo-
sition of organic matter and supply lime
to the crops. For grasses, add about
two bushels of salt per acre and apply as
surface dressing For clay lands, apply
by the wagon load; harlly too much Can
be added Use muck also, if available.
Farmers having mari deposits will do
well to test their value on different lands.
Small plots in a couple of fields will be
sufficient. Those not having them should
examine their swamps and marshy lands,
and dig few feet beneath black soils.
Lime, in the form of mari or carbon
ate, should not be used with manures. In
the changes resulting. ammonium car
Donate is formed this is q volatile COM
hound. Lime, in the form of sulphate, ].
e., gypsum or and-plaster, is best; it
produces ammonium sulphate, stable
compound-in other words, it fixes the
ammonia.
The Q is no market for mari at present
established in anada Its value depends
upon its situation and the nature of the
surrounding land. The commercial value
of lime n fertilizers is sometimes placed
at 81 per ton. At that rate, )ntario dried
marls are worth from - to S. per ton.
Rich marls are sometimes utilized for
burnt lime. .-New YORK. World.